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thirty of the men-at-arms and see that they are fitted and ready to ride." |
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"We are going to Clyro Hill with fifty men-at-arms, my lady?" Sir Guy breathed. |
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"No, we are going to Penrwyn or Llanrwst." |
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Sir Guy's mouth opened, and closed. It was not his business to question his lady. That the names meant nothing to him was not important. At least he had talked her out of going to warmaybe. More likely, she was going to gather men in Wales; the names sounded like Welsh. If so, there would be castellans or vassals there, men with more authority. Let them argue with her. Sir Guy went to do his mistress' bidding with a slightly lessened foreboding. |
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Alinor went to write her letters with such eyes that Father Francis began to remonstrate with her even though he did not know what to say. He counseled patience and forbearing, submission to God's will, at which point Alinor spat at him that she was submissive to God's will. She was, as was written, helping herself as best she could and thus was counting on God to fulfill his promise and help her. And a good priest would pray for her, instead of hindering her. At that point Father Francis did retire to pray, knowing that his lady was beyond remonstrance. His prayers were a little confused between the well-doing of her body and of her soul, but at the moment Alinor would not have cared if he was praying for her damnation, so long as he let her alone. |
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The first few letters were easy. She gave a brief explanation of what had happened and summoned those vassals who were near enough to meet her at Clifford, with those men they were obligated to bring to her defense, in two weeks' time. To Isobel she wrote a short note, containing the same information, and requesting her permission to use Clifford as a gathering point for her men. Isobel would certainly offer men also. Refusal or acceptance would depend upon the outcome of the |
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